Direction indicator



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,850

w. ZORN DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Jan. 8. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Werner Zorn)- Feb; 21,1928.

W. ZORN DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Jan. 8. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 glwoe'ntoz Werner Zorro.

Patented Feb; 21, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

WERNER ZORN, 0F BERLIN, GERMANY.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

Application filed January 8, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to signaling apparatuses for vehicles and has for its object a construction that will not only give. a visible signal but will function in an unusua 5 manner to attract attention, thereby assuring the attention of the driver of the. following vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism I si a1 blade to an exposed position and w ile in this position operate the same so as to attract attention to the fact that a .signal has been given and the driver is about to act accordingly.

A feature of my mvention is the novel construction of electromechanical means so that the same can be intermittently energized and de-energized so as to intermittently subject the signal arm to a magnetic l0 traction action to cause the arm to oscillate.

It is also an object of my invention to design the mined time actionso as to regulate the 0s cillation of the arm in a manner to obtain 5 the best results.

Besides the above my invention is distinguished in the novel manner in which the various parts are designed and associated so that an electric circuit may be intermit- 80 tently closed and opened at time interva s necessary to accomplish the best results and in such a manner that the number of movable parts are reduced to a minimum, thereby greatly prolonging the life of the ll glejilrlice and the reduction of cost of assem- With these and other objects in view the invention will be better understood in the following detailed description taken incon- 40, nection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the casing of a direction indicator showing one form of mechanism arranged therein in 48 side elevation and also dia mmatically showing the electrical circuits associated therewlth,

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the hue 2-2 of Figure 1 in the direction of 60 the arrows as shown,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view simil44 of Fi that will throw the mechanism to have a predeter-- 159,852, and in clechoslovakia June 23, 1826.

lar to Figure 1 showing a modified constructlon of the mechanism and Figure 4 is a section taken on the line re 3 in the direction of the arrows as s own. Y

Again referring to the drawings and more particularly to the construction shown in Figure 1, the numeral 1 designates the casing having a slot 2 in the side thereof to accommodate the swingingmovement of the signal arm 3. This signal arm 3 is-mounted on the'pivot 4 so as to swing to a horizontal exposed position as illustrated or to a vertical inexposed position within the casing. Secured to the pivot 4 is a segmental counter weight 5 arranged in a predetermined position relative to the signal blade so that the weight thereof may be utilized and combined with the weight of the signal blade to move the blade to a position within the casing and hold the same therein against accidental displace-. ment. Passed around the curved surface of the counter weight is a strap 6 having one end secured to the counterwei ht as indicated at 7 with the other en portion passedbeyond the weight and secured to a coil spring 9 that in turn connects to an armature 10 illustrated in this particular case as of U-shaped formation, so that the opposed poles 11 thereof may be attracted v 'thin the magnetic coils 12 that are ar ranged ina circuit 13 diagrammatically illustrated.

This circuit 13 includes a switch 14 which controls the continuity of the circuit and thereby regula the magnetic attraction 'of the coils for the armature. 'This switch 14'is under the control of the signal arm so that when the signal arm reaches its displaying position the switch will be opened for interrupting the circuit to the coils and as the coils lose their magnetic attraction it will be readily understoodthat the signal arm will gravitate towards its, vertical position; As the signal arm descends the switch will be relieved of the influence of the signal arm and will return to its closed position for again pass1ng current to the coils 12 for energizing ergization of the 00118 the armature will the same. Upon en be attracted and thus the signal arm is,

thrown again to its horizontal position. By interposing the coil spring 9, the shock of these impulses is reduced and a more even uniform action of the parts is assured.

As far as I have proceeded it will be notedthat the signal arm is subject to rapid oscillatory movement and if found advisable in practice, the oscillation may be prolonged and for accomplishing this result, I have illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 another construction of switch mechanism whereby the oscillation of the switch arm may be timed to the degree found most advantageous in practice.

In this particular case the switch 16 1s also in the form of a spring strip so as to have yieldable action toward and away from the stationary contact 17. The arm 18 carries a pin 19 traveling in an arcuate path to engage the free end of the switch 16 when the switch arm reaches its horizontal position so as to move the switch 16 out of engagement with the contact 17 and thereby interrupt the circuit for allowing the signal arm to gravitate. Simultaneously with this action the switch acts upon a cam shaped extension 21 to force the catch 22 in a direction to allow the switch 16 to snap behind the shoulder 23 of the extension 21 and thereby lock the switch out of engagement with this contact. This condition continues to exist until the signal arm approaches its vertical position at which time the lug 24 also carried by the signal arm engages a projection or hump 25 formed on v the catch in a position that the cam action between these parts will throw the catch in a direction to release the switch from the shoulder 23 so as to engage the contact 17 Immediately upon this action taking place the coils are again energized for throwing the slgnal arm to its horizontal position to allow the same to again pass through its cycle of. operation. The lug 19 corresponds to the lug 15 in Figure 1 for operating the switch. Particular attention is called to the fact that theconstruction and arrangement of the switch blade, catch, lug and pin of that type construction shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 are such that the relative size may be changed or the relative spacing thereof regulated so that the swinging movements of the arm may be adjusted to meet any requirements. To complete the invention it may be advisable to arrange an electric bulb 26 in i the blade so that the blade may be visible at night. This electric bulb 26 may be supphed with current from a battery as is illustrated in Figure 1.

The apparatus is attachedto any convenient part of the vehicle so as to be visible from the rear and the electric circuit 13 thereof is provided with a manually controlled switch 13' Upon closing of the switch 13', current will flow from the bat tery of the circuit 13 through the magnetic coils 12 which upon energization attract the armature 11 and exert a pull upon strap 6 for swinging the arm 3 about its pivot so as to assume a horizontal displaying position. Upon the arm reaching this horizontalpos tion, the continuity'of the electric circuit will be interrupted by the engagement brought about between the lugs 16 and the switch 14. This interruption of the electric circuit and the de-energization of the coils 12 will release the armature 11 of the magnetic influence of the -coils thereby allowing the arm 3 to gravitate to a vertical position within the casing where it is effectively held against accidental displacement by the gravitation of the counterweight 5.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the switch 14 closes previously to the arm 3 reaching its vertical po sition and thus the circuit is again closed for allowing the various parts to pass through their cycle of operation for returning the arm 3 to itshorizontal position. It is of course to be understood that upon opening the switch 13 as heretofore set forth, the

series of rapid magnetic impulses which is properly compensated for by the arrangement of the coil spring 9 which is illustrated as interposed bet. sen the strap 6 and the armature 10.

As heretofore set forth the time intervals of the oscillations of the arm may be accurately regulated as clearly shown and illustrated by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

It is of courseto be understood that the various parts may be constructed in various other manners and arranged in different arrangements, depending entirely upon the results to be accomplished and the reduction in cost of production and therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner except asset forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A signal comprising a casing, an arm pivoted to the casing to swing to a horizontal exposed position or a vertical position withtal or vertical 'tion, a segmental counterweight secure to said arm, a strap secured to and passed around said weight, a spring secured to one'end of the strap, an electric I circuit, magnetic means for excl-twin a ull on said spring included in said elec 'c' zzircuit, a switch included in said electric circuit, a pin carried by said arm to open said switch when the arm reaches horizontal position, a catch for holding the switch in open 10 position and means engaging upon said arm approaching vertical position to relieve said catch from the switch to allow the latter to return to closed position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 16' hand.

' WERNER 201m. 

